Danakil Desert & Afar Tours – 8 Days

Upon arrival at Bole International Airport, you will be warmly welcomed by our representatives and transferred to Harmony Hotel. Enjoy a leisurely morning and lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit the National Archaeological Museum to view the 3.6 million-year-old remains of “Lucy,” discovered in 1974. Continue to the Ethnological Museum at Addis Ababa University for an insightful look at Ethiopia’s diverse cultures. Afterward, visit the Holy Trinity Cathedral. End the day with a drive to Mount Entoto, at 10,500 feet, offering panoramic views of the capital city.
Overnight at Harmony Hotel (L, D)

Travel north through the Solulta plains, famous for Ethiopian athletes’ training. Arrive at the Jemma Valley Gorge, home to the endemic Gelada baboon. Enjoy the dramatic landscape as the terrain drops toward the Jemma River, a tributary of the Nile. Visit Debre Libanos Monastery, founded by Saint Teklehaimanot in the 13th century. Climb to the nearby cave where the saint is said to have stood on one leg for seven years. Return to Addis Ababa in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Harmony Hotel (B, L)

After breakfast, fly to Mekele. Meet your guide and vehicle at the airport, then enjoy a short coffee break in town. Drive to Hamedela, stopping for a picnic lunch at Berhale, where permits and police escort are arranged. Along the way, admire the traditional villages of the Tigre and Afar tribes and the salt caravans transporting salt bars. Arrive at Hamedela campsite for your first night camping in Danakil.
Overnight: Camping in Hamedela (B, L, D)

Early morning drive to Lake Asale, a vast salt lake. Visit local salt miners and merchants at work. Then explore the extraordinary Dallol Depression, known as the hottest inhabited place on Earth, with vivid sulfur springs and acid pools below sea level. Return to camp at Hamedela for overnight.
Overnight: Camping in Hamedela (B, L, D)

Drive early to Dodoma. Here, camels are arranged to carry your luggage and water as you start the hike to the Erta Ale volcano. Trek approximately 15 km to reach the volcanic hills, standing 613 meters above sea level. Witness the spectacular lava lake and its fiery eruptions. Camp overnight near the crater rim for an unforgettable experience.
Overnight: Camping at Erta Ale volcano (B, L, D)

Drive to the Afar Region’s Afrera area, located about 115 meters below sea level. Explore the desert hot springs and the striking landscape of the salt lake shore. Enjoy the stark beauty and tranquility of this unique desert environment.
Overnight: Camping near Afrera salt lake (B, L, D)

Travel to Awash National Park, home to the Afar nomads and their large livestock herds. Learn about the fascinating culture of the Afar people. Overnight stay at Awash Falls Lodge, offering comfortable accommodation near the park’s natural waterfalls.
Overnight: Awash Falls Lodge (B, L, D)

Enjoy a game drive and trekking in Awash National Park, home to over 80 mammal species and 454 bird species, including Beisa oryx and Soemmering’s gazelle. On the way back to Addis Ababa, admire the views of Lake Beseka and the Fentale volcanic crater. In the evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with traditional Ethiopian dishes and a coffee ceremony, accompanied by a folkloric show. Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Overnight: N/A (End of tour) (B, D)